Padel or tennis: which sport should I sign my child up for?

The best guide to choosing the ideal sport for children

Padel or tennis? Tennis or padel? Many racket-loving parents wonder which sport their children will enjoy most while learning values and exercising outdoors.

In this post we explain the advantages of both.

What do padel and tennis have in common?

Values

Both sports share very positive values for children. There is no physical contact with opponents and they are not constantly surrounded by controversy over refereeing, which makes them a perfect way for kids to exercise and make new friends.

When we think of players of these sports, qualities like honesty, perseverance and respect for the opponent come to mind.

Outdoors

In Spain we are lucky to enjoy great weather almost all year round, so it is a shame for children to exercise between four walls. Tennis and padel let them enjoy the sun and fresh air.

Individual game, shared practice

Because they are not essentially team sports like football or basketball, some parents are reluctant to sign their kids up. There is no need to be.

They are a perfect combination for children’s development. On the one hand, each child gets to know their own limits, game and personality: these are the sports where you learn most about yourself. On the other, they make new friends who share their interests and passions, help each other and improve together.

Coordination and concentration

Both sports are ideal for motor skills and coordination, as they work both legs and arms intensively, and they also develop great mental capacity and very high levels of concentration.

How is padel different from tennis?

Singles or doubles

Tennis can be played 2 against 2, but we usually think of singles. Padel is the opposite: it is normally played in pairs, so wins and losses are shared, which is key to developing a sporting mindset and learning to win and lose well.

The court and the importance of positioning

One of the most visible differences is the court itself.

In padel the walls play a fundamental role, which makes it a sport of positioning more than physical power. In tennis a hard, angled shot can be decisive and almost impossible to return; in padel everything depends on the player’s positioning and their sense of where the ball will end up.

Being able to play the ball off the wall before returning it gives padel a unique quality: skill beats strength, and intelligence on court beats fitness.

Your turn: choose your sport

If you have read this far, we hope we have helped you decide. The ball is in your court, but don’t worry: both are fantastic sports for children.

If you go for padel, see our guide to padel rackets for kids.